Although you don't have to pay any federal estate taxes until your taxable estate exceeds $5.43 million (the limit for 2015), you might be surprised by all the things the government counts in getting there. In addition, 15 states and the District of Columbia have their own estate taxes, and most kick in at a much lower level.

In the worksheet below, the ownership column is included because how you own property is pivotal to how much of its value will be included in your estate when you die. In the "value" column, include the following:

The full value of property of which you are the sole owner

Half the value of property you own jointly with your spouse with right of survivorship

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Your share of property owned with others

Half the value of community property if you live in a community-property state

Also include the value of the proceeds of an insurance policy on your life if you own the policy, your vested interest in pension and profit-sharing plans, and the value of property in revocable trusts.